Thanks Thanks:  0
Likes Likes:  0
Needs Pictures Needs Pictures:  0
Picture(s) thanks Picture(s) thanks:  0
Results 1 to 13 of 13
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Mandurah, WA
    Posts
    41

    Default Colchester parts... WTH??

    Evening Gents,

    I have grabbed myself a Colchester Student MK 1 for the shed, nice condition and very sturdy bit of kit.

    One issue, the cross slide nut is shagged, its threads have been worn heavily, not even a ACME thread anymore as the threads have been work from flat to sharp points.

    The cross slide screw is a ACME 3/4-5TPI by my measurements, the screw itself is in great nick with nice threads.

    Due to the worn nut, I can move the cross slide back and forward by about 3mm by hand, not too flash. I saw a seller on ebay offering spares and sent an email for a quote on a new bronze nut........$665.00 + post!! Or, for my happiness, they could offer a new cross slide for 1.5K, unbelievable to put it politely.

    Whats the go with these parts and prices? How can a cast bronze nut weighing in at 148 gm's cost nearly $700.00 to post to my door? Just obscene, no wonder the seller has not got any feedback, no one will buy his gear.

    So, I plan to get the local machinery blokes to do me up a 3/4"-5TPI nut in bronze, I imagine it will be considerably less than the quote I got.

    Begs the question though, is there a market for replacement parts for older machinery you think? I can see a bloke with some skills able to provide a service for a much lower cost than what seems available on the market.

    Thanks,

    Mike

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    near Warragul, Victoria
    Posts
    3,718

    Default parts

    Hi

    Congrats on buying that fine machine

    Seems to be a exhorbitant price you were quoted .

    Have you thought about making a new nut yourself , assuming that you have another lathe ? You could practice on a cheaper material first . BTW you could make a nut out of cast iron , if bronze isnt available

    Having read posts from forum members, that's the problem with Colchesters, spares are dear . And those special headstock bearings could be a potential disaster if you have to replace them

    If somebody here in Aust. did offer a service making new cross feed nuts for lathes and other machinery , I'm sure they would do well because there seems to be nobody doing it right now .

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    332

    Default

    Mike,
    It maybe worth trying Ambassador Machine Tools (Tom) 08-93213611 used to sell Colchester bits, not sure if currently does though. No connection etc just a customer in times past. Alan.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Newcastle NSW
    Age
    77
    Posts
    155

    Default

    I made a cross slide nut for my lathe a few years ago. I made it from mild steel and cut the thread in a piece of P.B. rod and loctited it into the steel body. Could you bore the worn thread out of your nut and loctite a new thread in? You would need access to another lathe obviously.
    Russell

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Blue Mountains
    Posts
    195

    Default

    Hello Mike,
    have you tried Robert Pringle they are a UK manufacturer who advertise that they have off the shelf parts for Colchester and Harrison lathes. I have no connection and have not tried them but they might be worth a try.
    I would be interested how you solve your issue as I have a Colchester Chipmaster .
    Mm.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    near Warragul, Victoria
    Posts
    3,718

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Australia east coast
    Age
    71
    Posts
    2,713

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by mike rolly View Post
    Whats the go with these parts and prices? How can a cast bronze nut weighing in at 148 gm's cost nearly $700.00 to post to my door? Just obscene, no wonder the seller has not got any feedback, no one will buy his gear.
    Situation normal with Colchester. I got quoted well over $1000 for a replacement rack for my Chipmaster.

    After I stopped laughing, I made one myself, and a new pinion gear while I was at it.

    So that's my advice - make one. Not difficult and think how much raw material you can totally ruin before you approach the price of a bought one.

    PDW

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    North Brisbane. Qld. Australia
    Age
    70
    Posts
    1,510

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Lower Lakes SA
    Age
    58
    Posts
    2,607

    Default

    Think of a number and multiply it by 600.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Southern Highlands NSW
    Posts
    1,894

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bryan View Post
    Think of a number and multiply it by 600.
    So that's how they got their name

  11. #11
    Ueee's Avatar
    Ueee is offline Blacksmith, Cabinetmaker, Machinist, Messmaker
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Canberra
    Age
    39
    Posts
    4,515

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bryan View Post
    Think of a number and multiply it by 600.
    I'll remember that next time I quote a job.

    Anyone need any work done
    1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Mandurah, WA
    Posts
    41

    Default

    Thanks for the advice fellers, I went to a machine shop today but they could not do this type of job.

    Did give me some nice offcuts though, including some Delrin round, plan on having a try at making a new nut out of this stuff. There is a thread on HSM describing how to do this, apparently it works very well indeed.

    Sold my 10x22 Chinese lathe to a couple of mates last weekend so I have to machine this nut on the mill. Will be a good test of my recently acquired rotary table and tail stock.

    Will let you all know how it works out for your reference.

    Mike

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    melbourne, laverton
    Posts
    1,910

    Default

    hi mate i have an old colchester as well scored a new nut on pommy ebay for around 40 squid.
    i was quoted over $2000 for a replacement cross slide screw.
    any pics of your lathe?
    aaron

Similar Threads

  1. Colchester
    By pjt in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 8th Jun 2012, 02:38 PM
  2. Colchester for sale
    By rusty steel in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 12th Oct 2008, 08:15 PM
  3. Colchester
    By footz in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 1st Oct 2008, 10:42 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •